Investigations on the synergistic effect of combined NaOl/SPA collector in ilmenite flotation

Efficient Flotation Separation of Ilmenite and Olivine in a Weak Alkaline Pulp Using a Ternary Combination Collector Centered around Al3

Due to the similar physical and chemical properties of ilmenite and olivine, separating them is challenging. The flotation process, with the use of collectors, is an effective method. In this study, a ternary collector consisting of aluminum ion (III), benzohydroxamic acid (BHA), and sodium oleate (NaOL) was prepared for the flotation separation of ilmenite and olivine. Through micro-flotation experiments, molecular dynamics simulation (MD), density functional theory (DFT), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) analysis, the synergistic effect between the components of the ternary collector and the adsorption configuration on the surface of ilmenite was investigated. The results revealed that at pH = 8, Al (III), BHA, and NaOL could coordinate and adsorb effectively on the surface of ilmenite, enhancing its floatability for separation from olivine. The adsorption configuration differed from previous reports, showing a co-adsorption of multiple forms on the surface of ilmenite.

The Role of Fe(III) in Selective Adsorption of Pullulan on Calcite Surfaces: Experimental Investigation and Molecular Dynamics Simulation

The floatability of fluorite and calcite exhibit similar properties, rendering their flotation separation challenging. Macromolecular polysaccharide reagents containing the polyhydroxyl group have shown broad promising application. The selectivity of polysaccharide is relatively low. In this study, the introduction of Fe3+ was employed to enhance the selective adsorption capacity of Pullulan polysaccharide towards fluorite and calcite minerals, thereby achieving effective flotation separation. Furthermore, the mechanism underlying intramolecular interactions was elucidated. The DFT calculation and XPS analysis revealed that the adsorption of Fe3+ on the calcite surface was more favorable, leading to the formation of a Ca-O-Fe structure. The MD simulation, XPS analysis, and Zeta potential analysis revealed that the Fe-OH groups on the surface of calcite reacted with the -OH groups in Pullulan and formed bonds, resulting in the formation of a Calcite-Fe-Pullulan structure. This facilitated the attachment of a significant number of Pullulan molecules to the calcite surface. The formation of a hydrophilic layer on the outer surface of calcite by Pullulan, in contrast to the absence of such layer on fluorite's surface, results in an increased disparity in surface floatability between these two minerals, thereby enhancing the efficiency of flotation separation.

Separation of Ilmenite from Vanadium Titanomagnetite by Combining Magnetic Separation and Flotation Processes

Vanadium titanomagnetite (VTM) is an important mineral for developing titanium resources, but the comprehensive recovery of ilmenite separation is extremely poor, resulting in the low-efficiency utilization of titanium resources. Here, the separation of ilmenite from VTM ore is studied by combining magnetic separation and flotation technologies. In particular, the floatability of mixed MOH/PG-1 collectors is thoroughly investigated. The results show that a concentrate with a TiO2 grade of 9.90% can be separated via weak magnetic separation and coarse particle tailing dumping. The concentrate grade is then increased to 14.32% via strong magnetic separation and floating separation of sulfur minerals. Finally, a TiO2 grade of 46.34% is obtained through closed-circuit flotation using mixed MOH/PG-1 collectors. The mixed collectors are very efficient and can enhance the chemical adsorption of the Ti4+, Fe3+, and Fe2+ ions in the ilmenite concentrate compared with the MOH collector, thereby increasing the TiO2 grade and recovery by 3.31% and 1.20%, respectively. This is beneficial for improving the comprehensive utilization of titanium resources in VTM ores.

Low-Temperature Flotation Separation of Diaspore from Kaolinite by Using a Mixed Collector

In this paper, the effect of a new mixed collector sodium oleate (NaOl)/tert dodecyl mercaptan (TDM) on the separation of diaspore and kaolinite at 283 K was investigated. The molar ratio of NaOl to TDM is 8:2. The properties of the mixed collector and its adsorption mechanism on diaspore and kaolinite were studied by surface tension measurements, Zeta potential determinations and XPS analysis. The flotation results show that the mixed collector NaOl/TDM has a good collection ability for diaspore and a good selectivity for kaolinite at low temperatures. Therefore, the mixed collector NaOl/TDM can effectively separate diaspore and kaolinite under alkaline conditions at 283 K. The results of surface tension measurements show that the molecular density, hydrophobic association ability and collection ability of the mixed collector NaOl/TDM are better than those of the single collector at 283 K. In addition, the formation of a micelle effect of the mixed collector NaOl/TDM has a synergistic effect, which improves the reagent activity at low temperatures with the flotation effect enhanced. The results of the Zeta potential determinations and XPS analysis show that the total adsorption capacity of the mixed collector NaOl/TDM on the surface of the diaspore at low temperatures is higher than that of NaOl, and the adsorption capacity on the surface of kaolinite is similar to that of NaOl. The mixed collector NaOl/TDM may be adsorbed on the surface of diaspore and kaolinite by a hydrogen bond at 283 K.

Application of Dual Silane Coupling Agent-Assisted Surface-Modified Quartz Powder in Epoxy Matrix for Performance Enhancement

Quartz powder (QP) is an inorganic filler that is expected to significantly enhance the dielectric and mechanical properties of epoxy (EP)-based composites applied in copper clad laminates and epoxy molding compounds for 5G applications. As is well-known, the performance of the QP–EP composites is directly correlated with the dispersion effect and the compatibility of QP with an EP matrix. Herein, we propose the surface modification method of QP by mixing SCAs of different alkyl chain lengths that contain amino and carbonyl groups. Different characterization methods (FTIR, TGA, XPS, SEM, contact angle measurement, viscosity, and mechanical properties) and molecular dynamics simulation were adopted to study its effect and mechanism. Through dual SCA modification, the viscosity of QP–EP composites was reduced by 11.70%, and the flexural and tensile strengths increased by 16.89% and 30.01%, respectively. In addition, it was revealed that the superiority of dual SCAs originated from the synergistic effect between APTES and SPIS, it was the electrostatic repulsion force between the amino groups of the two SCAs that caused a steric hindrance that activated the steric stabilization effect of SPIS, thus resulting in better dispersion and excellent compatibility. Meanwhile, the amino and carbonyl groups of the SCA interacted with the EP matrix via chemical bonds and hydrogen bonds, thus strengthening the interfacial adhesion between the QP and EP matrix and improving the mechanical performance of QP–EP composites. These results are evidence of the potential of the proposed approach, which is based on the synergistic compounding of SCA with different molecular structures, in powder industrial applications.